Children's Home run by Zarona Care Limited in Barking and Dagenham

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 1 Registered provider: Serenity Home Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

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Information about this children's home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified no serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and two have moved out, leaving one child still living at the home. The child is settling in, and they feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics with staff. This helps the child to develop trusting relationships with them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child to attend routine health appointments. They are also helping the child to get back into education and progress with their learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers assessed the suitability of the child living in the home before they moved in. The child experienced a planned transition, however, records of this are incomplete.

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Findings from the inspection

Shared spaces in the home are tidy. There is CCTV outside the home, and the placing authority consent to this, the child is also aware of this arrangement. However, the child’s room is not a clean environment. Leaders and managers have plans to support the child to clean their room.

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Findings from the inspection

The child does not go missing from the home. Staff ensure that the police have up to date information about the child. Leaders and managers have regular meetings with the placing authority. Staff know the child’s family contact arrangements. This ensures that the child maintains contact with their family in a safe way.

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Findings from the inspection

Since moving into the home, the child has not been involved in any incidents. When the child is frustrated, natural consequences are used to help the child to reflect on their thoughts and feelings.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all staff understand the process to follow when a child makes an allegation, or that they can contact Ofsted or the local authority designated officer (LADO) directly if they have safeguarding concerns. This lack of awareness increases the risk of delays in notifying the appropriate external agencies about serious incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers acknowledge that they have not responded effectively to all requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. The child’s file is disorganised and recording systems are still ineffective. For example, some records from consultations with the local authority designated officer (LADO) were not accessible on inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers were unable to evidence how they consider and risk assess staffing arrangements to ensure that staff are suitable to work alone with children. Not all staff have been securely recruited. For example, some staff files do not contain full employment histories or complete references. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 3 There is now a workforce development plan that supports staff with their development. Staff experience a thorough induction; and they are trained to meet the child’s needs. Team meetings and supervision take place regularly. However, not all supervision sessions discuss safeguarding practice and children.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are yet to see if their internal monitoring system is effective in overseeing staff practice and the child’s care. The quality-of-care review lacks detail about the experiences of the children in the home. The statement of purpose was not submitted to the regulator within a suitable time and does not include details of the staff, their qualifications or experience.

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Findings from the inspection

When a previous child left the home, the old manager gave the child their full records. Although this has not occurred the new manager understands why records should be shared in a managed way that supports the child’s understanding of their experiences in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a new home manager and responsible individual in the home who are waiting for their applications to be considered by the regulator. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/04/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand the process to follow when a child makes an allegation.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the child's room is a clean and safe environment.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 13 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 6 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children's records are accurate and kept up to date.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they use internal monitoring systems effectively to improve the home.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that they risk assess staffing arrangements in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that supervision supports staff's understanding of safeguarding and the quality of children's care. All staff must receive the same quality of supervision.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3)(d)) 13 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 7 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. The registered person must ensure that the following items, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner—

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Requirement Due date

children's case records (see regulation 36). (Regulation 38 (i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that there is a contingency plan so that that children's files are always accessible.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 April 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the revised statement of purpose is sent to the regulator within 28 days of revision and includes details about the staff, their qualifications and experience. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', paragraph 3.5, page 14)  The registered person should ensure that when children complain, the staff involved are spoken to and a discussion takes place with children about the outcome of a complaint. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', paragraph 4.13, page 22)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review meets regulation 45 and focuses on the quality of care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', paragraph 15.2, page 64)

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Recommendations

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Serenity Home services Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 63 - 66 Hatton Garden, fifth floor, suite 23, London, EC1N 8LE

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Inspector

Chelsea Agyeman, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2760076 9 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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